Tag: Chardonnay

Hess Panthera and Lion Tamer featured photo

New Wines from Hess Family Wine Estates: Panthera and Lion Tamer

Today’s cellar note has us sipping two new wines from the Hess Family Wine Estates Lion Head Collection. This is the debut vintage of Panthera Chardonnay and the second vintage of Lion Tamer Red Blend. We received both wines as tasting samples. Donald Hess first purchased acreage on Mount Veeder above Napa Valley in 1982. The site was originally settled […]

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An Ironstone Vineyards Marathon

Both the Kautz family name and Ironstone Vineyards are familiar to me, as they are to many residents in and around Lodi where I associate the Kautz name with farming and viticulture. The sprawling Ironstone winery, located in the Sierra Foothills town of Murphys, is a destination winery. In addition to wine tasting and the wine cave there is a […]

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Harney Lane Wine for the Holidays and Everyday

I’m willing to bet that you closely associate Zinfandel with the Lodi wine region. Many wine drinkers do. But, you might not associate Chardonnay with Lodi. We’ve only tasted a few Lodi Chardonnays, but recently we had the opportunity to taste the new release Chardonnay from Harney Lane Winery & Vineyards along with their Old Vine Zinfandel sourced from the […]

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A Sampler of Kenwood Vineyards

Kenwood Vineyards is a winery name you no doubt recognize. The Sonoma County winery has been making wine since 1970. We’ve enjoyed Kenwood wines over the years, but haven’t tasted many recently. We recently received a selection of Kenwood Vineyards wines as tasting samples that provided an opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with the wines of Kenwood Vineyards. Kenwood Vineyards began […]

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A Glass of Wine for Every Palate

We don’t all like the same kind of wine, and that’s okay, in fact it’s one of the things I enjoy most about wine. Gathering friends together over a meal and a collection of wines is always an interesting experience. I look forward to the opinions of others and how they compare to my own impressions. This collection wine, which […]

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Summertime Sippers from Hess Select

As I sit writing this Cellar Note today’s temperature is expected to break the triple-digit mark. Strategies to keep cool will be needed. Umbrellas will be up on the patio and the misters turned on. Something cool in the glass will be required. We recently received three wines as tasting samples that will do nicely. These wines will keep you […]

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Behind the Wine at Rombauer Vineyards

The Rombauer Vineyards’ tasting room is situated overlooking the Napa Valley in St. Helena on the top level of the winemaking facility that is built into the hillside. The area is wooded and beautifully landscaped. It is the perfect place to taste and enjoy the wines of Rombauer Vineyards. I love tasting wine like this: unhurried and in a beautiful […]

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A Taste of the Pacific Northwest

Today’s Cellar Note includes three varietal wines from two very different wine regions in the Pacific Northwest. Oregon’s Willamette Valley is represented by Oregon Trails Wine Co. Pinot Noir and Washington state’s Columbia Valley by Pacific Crest Wine Co. Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Both brands are part of the Wine Trees portfolio of wines. We received all three as tasting […]

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The Wines of Domaine Bousquet with Anne Bousquet

It wasn’t until I began to take wine seriously that I became interested in the story behind a bottle of wine. My first interest was the variety and then, with a bit of experience, I began to consider style. The story of the winery came much later, after I began to grapple with wine regions. I think it was simply […]